Fannin County Emergency Management Agency

Over the past two weekends, Tri-State Mutual Aid Association, with additional instructors from Chattanooga Fire Department and Cleveland Fire Department, hosted an intensive Swiftwater Rescue Technician course on the Hiwassee River.

Fannin County Fire was represented by William Reed and Dale Stiles, both members of the Fannin County Swiftwater Rescue Team. Although already certified Swiftwater Technicians, they attended the course to learn new techniques, refine existing skills, and bring additional knowledge back to Fannin County to better serve our citizens and visitors.

Participants practiced advanced rescue techniques, victim recovery, boat operations, rope systems, and other critical skills used during flood and swiftwater emergencies.

Continuous training is essential to maintaining a highly capable rescue team. We appreciate Tri-State Mutual Aid Association and instructors for providing this valuable opportunity to train alongside rescuers from across the region.

A cluster of thunderstorms over AL is expected to push northward and into the area by this afternoon. This cluster is expected to bring strong to severe storms, capable of producing damaging wind gusts across north and central Georgia.